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Monday, February 27, 2017 - 6:00am

Ever Wonder About Mint?

I do not often chew gum, but when I do, I chew something minty. When the bill comes at the end of a meal, I cannot help but take a mint. And of course, when I brush my teeth, my toothpaste is minty. Perhaps I should be wondering why so much mint, but instead I wonder, why does it taste so cool?

Menthol does not make your mouth colder, but it makes your brain think that it is, like a chemical version of fake news. When menthol binds to TRPM8, the ion channel reacts as though it were cold. This effect lingers for some time, making your breathe or water taste cold. Not only that, but some studies indicate that athletes perform better with exposure to menthol. How cool is that? If you have any freshly minted comments on menthol, please add them below.